1838Bobadilla Nay, for a more instance of their preposterous humor, there came 1839three or four of them to me at a gentleman's house, where it was 1840my chance to be resident at that time, to entreat my presence at their 1841schools, and withal so much importuned me that -- I protest to you, as 1842I am a gentleman -- I was ashamed of their rude demeanor out of 1843all measure. Well, I told them that to come to a public school, they 1844should pardon me, it was opposite to my humor; but if so they would 1845attend me at my lodging, I protested to do them what right or favor 1846I could, as I was a gentleman, et cetera.

1848Bobadilla Alas, soon tried! You shall hear, sir. Within two or three 1849days after, they came, and, by Jesu, good signor, believe me, I graced them 1850exceedingly, showed them some two or three tricks of prevention hath got them since 1851admirable credit. They cannot deny this. And yet now they hate me; and why? 1852Because I am excellent, and for no other reason on the earth.

1854Bobadilla I will tell you, sir. Upon my first coming to the 1855city they assaulted me, some three, four, five, six of them together, as I 1856have walked alone in divers places of the city, as upon the Exchange, at 1857my lodging, and at my ordinary, where I have driven them afore me the 1858whole length of a street in the open view of all our gallants, pitying 1859to hurt them, believe me. Yet all this lenity will not depress their spleen; 1860they will be doing with the pismire, raising a hill a man may spurn abroad with his foot at pleasure. By my soul, I could have slain them 1862all, but I delight not in murder. I am loath to bear any other 1863but a bastinado for them, and yet I hold it good policy not to 1864go disarmed, for, though I be skillful, I may be suppressed with multitudes.

1865Lorenzo Jr. Ay, by Jesu, may you, sir, and in my conceit 1866our whole nation should sustain the loss by it, if it were so.

1869Bobadilla Indeed, that might be some loss, but who respects it? I 1870will tell you, signor, in private: I am a gentleman and live here obscure 1871and to myself. But were I known to the duke, observe me, I would 1872undertake, upon my head and life, for the public benefit of the state, not 1873only to spare the entire lives of his subjects in general, but to save 1874the one half -- nay, three parts -- of his yearly charges in holding 1875wars generally against all his enemies. And how will I do it, think you?

1877Bobadilla Marry, thus: I would select nineteen more to myself throughout the 1878land; gentlemen they should be of good spirit, strong and able constitution. I would 1879choose them by an instinct, a trick that I have. And I would teach 1880these nineteen the special tricks -- as your punto, your reverso, your stoccato, your 1881imbroccato, your passado, your montanto -- till they could all play very near or 1882altogether as well as myself. This done, say the enemy were forty thousand strong: 1883we twenty would come into the field the tenth of March or thereabouts and 1884would challenge twenty of the enemy. They could not in their honor refuse the 1885combat. Well, we would kill them; challenge twenty more, kill them; twenty more, kill 1886them; twenty more, kill them too. And thus would we kill every man his 1887twenty a day, that's twenty score; twenty score, that's two hundred; two hundred a 1888day, five days a thousand. Forty thousand -- forty times five, five times forty 1889-- two hundred days kills them all, by computation. And this will I venture my life to perform, provided there by no treason practiced upon us.

1911Bobadilla Signor, I never thought on it till now: body of Saint 1912George, I have a warrant of the peace served on me even now as 1913I came along, by a waterbearer. This gentleman saw it -- Signor Matheo.

1921Bobadilla Well, gentlemen, bear witness I was bound to the peace, by Jesu.

1922Lorenzo Jr. Why, and though you were, sir, the law allows you to defend yourself. That's but a poor excuse.

1923Bobadilla I cannot tell. I never sustained the like disgrace, by heaven. 1924Sure I was struck with a planet then, for I had no power to 1925touch my weapon.

1926Lorenzo Jr. Ay, like enough. I have heard of many that have 1927been beaten under a planet. Go, get you to the surgeon's. 'Sblood, an these 1928be your tricks, your passados and your montantos, I'll none of them.